Controlling mechanism for sand traps



' Filled Feb. 21, 1947 Nov. 16, 1948.v F, E, sAARl ETAL v2,4545215 coNTRoLLING MEoHANfsM FOR s-AND TRAP-s 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 NOV. 16, 1948. F, E, sAARl ETAL 2,454,215

GONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR SAND TRAPS Friled Feb. 2l, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 16, 1948 Y coN'rRoLLING MECHANISM FOR SAND TRAP Frank E'. Saari, Chicago, and Grant V. W. Roth,

` Evanston, Ill.

'Application February 21, 1947, serial No. 729,966 I 1 The invention relates to track Asandersfor locomotives, and more particularly to theiengineers valve for controlling the `delivery ofthe sand by compressed air, from the usual sand traps.

Heretofore, it has been commonV practice to employ valve-mechanism which includes `a rotatable disk or element which is provided With av through-port and adapted to be set into positions for controlling respectively, the delivery of air to one or more traps for clean-out blasts, and `to sand delivery nozzles in the traps. In this mechanisin, one face of the rotatable disk iitted` against a seat in the casing which was provided with. conduits communicatively connected to the sand traps respectively. In practice, it has been found that leakage is sometimes caused by imperfectly tting casing sections orengaging faces of the. disk and its seat, or particles becoming` lodged between said faces, or from other causes, so that when the disk was set to cut oi the supply of `compressed air to the sand trap, a considerable volume of compressed air `was Wasted. In the operation ci track sanders by compressed air, a desideratum is to conserve the air supply.v

The main object of the `present invention, is to provide valve mechanism of this'type which includes an auxiliary valve controlled by the rotative movements ofthe valve disk forautomatically cutting off the supply cf= compressed air tothe valve-disk` chamber in the casing, to eliminate unilateral pressure and drag on the valve-disk for ease of its operatiompreventing leakage of air from the casing while the Valve-disk is set to cut oli delivery of air to the trap fand to prevent the delivery of air to the clean-,out blast during the return of the valve-disk to its neutral position after each sanding operation.

Anotherobject of the; invention is to provide a valve of this type in which the auxiliary valve is controlled to prevent the delivery of air `to the cleaneout duct of the` trap, during thereturn stroke of the disk to its neutral position, by simple cam means on the valve-disk. l

Other objects of the invention will appear from the detailed description.

The invention consists of the several novel features hereinafter set vforth and-more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawings; y

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of-a valve embodying the invention. I I

Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 isa section taken on line3--3 of Fig.. 2.

Fig.` 4 is a partial section `similar to Fig.j2, illustrating the valve disk rotated .to open the 7 Claims. (Cl. 2914-16) auxiliary valve for the flow of compressed airtov the Valve chamber.

Fig. 5 is a similar section illustrating the lever for opening the auxiliary valve While it is being shifted radially by the cam means on thevalvedisk, so the auxiliary valve Wil-l. remain closedto.

prevent the delivery of air to theclean-out duct during the Vreturn stroke of the valve-disk` to-.its

normal. position after a sanding operationhas been completed.

Fig. 6 is a face View of the casing section which contains the valve-disk with the leverfor controlling the auxiliary valve.

Fig. 7 is a face View of the valve-disk.

Fig. 8 is a perspective ci the cam-means on the valve-disk.

Fig. 9 is a face View of the. valve-disk, illus.- trat'ing the movement ofthe lever for controlllfli the auxiliary valve during a return Stoke of said disk.

Theinvention is exemplied in valve-mechanism .which comprises a casing formed yoi outlet and inlet sections III and II, Whichiare` secured together by screws I2. A pipe I3 leadingfrom a source of compressed air supply, is connected to the section II of the casing. Pipes I4 and I5 are connected. to receive air from separate conduits in the casing-section I9, and are connected respectively to the ducts in a pair of sand traps, for delivering clean-out blasts to the sand traps, as Well understood in the art. Pipes I6 and I'I are connected to receive air from `separate conduits in casing-section IIl, and are connected re. spectively to deliver air for discharging sand from a pair of traps, as Well understood inthe art. A chamber I8, in the casing, is adapted to receive air from supply. pipe I3, under control of the auxiliary valve hereinafter described. A valve disk I9 is rotatable in the chamber I8, and Vhas one of its faces iitting against the face 20` in valve section Ill, `which forms a seat for said disk. Disk I9 is rotatable by a stud 2|, which is con-` nected to the disk by a rib 22. StudA ZI has aflixed thereto, a handle or lever 23, which isprovided with a spring-pressed dog 24, Which is adapted to engage a series of notches 2li,V formed ina segment on the casing-section I Il, for yieldably holding the lever in its different selective and predetermined positions. .A port 21 extends through valve-disk IS, and controls the flow of air from `chamber I8, to a pair of ducts 28, 29, in casingsection IIB, Which are communicatively connected to pipes Ill and I5 respectively, and to ducts SI1-3l, which are communicatively connected to pipes I6 and I1 respectively. In practice, pipes I4 and I6 are connected to the clean-out duct and to the nozzle for delivering sand respectively, from one trap to sand the rails when the locomotive is travelling forwardly, and pipes I5 and I'I are connected respectively to the clean-out duct and to the sand delivery nozzle of a second trap to sand the rails when the locomotive is travelling in the reverse direction. By rotation of the handle 23, disk I3 may be rotated to selectively supply air separately to the ducts 28, 29, and 3l, for controlling the delivery of air through pipes I4 and I5, to the clean-out ducts of the sand traps and through pipes I6 and Il, to control the flow of i air to the nozzles of sand traps for discharging sand onto the rails.

An auxiliary valve, generally designated 33, is mounted in the inlet casing-section II, and controls the flow of air from a chamber 34, which is communicatively connected to the air supply pipe I3, through a passage 35, into the chamber I8. Valve 33 comprises a stem 36, which is slidably mounted in a cap 3l, a packing 33 secured on a head 39 by a screw 40, and a washer 493. A spring 42 is adapted to normally close the exposed face of the packing disk 38, against a seat 4I, which surrounds the opening 35. The auxiliary valve 33 is'controlled by cam means generally designated 46, which is integral with and projects from, one face of the valve-disk I9 adjacent its outer periphery, and a lever 43, which is shiftable by said cam means.

The lever 43 has its upper end adapted to fulcrum on the face 2li of disk I9, has a V-shaped corner 45 at its lower end which engages cammeans 46, and is provided with an extension or abutment 4'I which is adapted to engage a part of valve 33,'such as screw 49, to open said valve by forcing it away from its seat against the force of spring 42. Lever 43 is conned in a recess l44 in casing section II, for pivotal movement and for sliding movement. A spring 48 in casing-section II, urges lever 43 toward the face 2lia of disk I9 and permits pivotal or angular movement of said lever. A spring El), confined in the upper end of lever 43, urges the lever downwardlyagainst the periphery of chamber I8 and permits Vertical sliding movement of the lever.

Cam means 46 includes two sets of members, each set of which, as the valve-disk I9 is shifted in one direction from its neutral position, will control successively, the operation of the lever 43 to open auxiliary valve 33 for a clean-out blast; close said valve after a clean-out blast; and reopen the auxiliary valve, for vair to the sand delivery nozzle of one trap, under control of the port 21 in disk-valve I9. One Set of cammembers controls lever 43 for the operation of one trap when valve-disk I9 and handle 23 are shifted in one direction, and the other set similarly controls lever 43 for the operation of the second sand trap when handle 23 and disk I9 are rotated in the opposite direction. Each set of cam-members includes an outwardly inclined or rising face 5I, for shifting lever 43 to open valve 33 for a clean-out blast; an inwardly inclined face 52, for closing the auxiliary valve after a clean-out blast; an outwardly inclined face 53, for opening valve 33 for air to the sand delivery nozzle; and a flat face 54, for holding valve 33 open to continue the sanding operation until it has been completed. The' portion of each cam-member on which the inwardly inclined face 52 is formed, is beveled at 55 from a point at its inner end to the full width at the outer end of said face, for radially shifting lever 43 to prevent it from opening valve 33 during the return stroke of handle 23 and disk I9, from sanding to neutral position.

The operation of the valve will be as follows: While handle 23 is in its neutral or central position, port 2'I will be out of communication with the ducts 28, 29, 30 and 3l, which lead to the pipes I4, I5, I6, I'I, respectively. Valve 33 will then be closed against its seat 40, spring 42 will hold lever I43 against disk I9, and no compressed air will be supplied to chamber I9. The pressure of spring 48 applied to lever 43, will hold it in engagement with the face 2Da of the disk I9 and the corner of said lever will be positioned between the cam faces 5 I. Valve 33 will be closed, so that no air can pass into chamber I8 or leak around valve-disk I9. For a sanding operation, handle 23 will be shifted from its normal position, illustrated in Fig. 1, forwardly or rearwardly, according to the sand trap to be operated. When handle 23 is shifted in one direction from its neutral position, disk I9 will be rotated therewith to bring its port 21 successively into registry with a duct 28 for a clean-out blast and a duct 3U for air to the sand discharge nozzle of the trap to which said ducts are connected. Assuming the handle to be shifted in clockwise direction, a cam face 5I will engage the lower end of and angularly shift, lever 43, so its abutment 4l will open valve 33 and admit air to chamber I8 from which it passes through port 21 into duct 28 for delivering a clean-out blast through pipe I4 to the clean-out duct in said sand trap. During the continued rotation of handle 23 and disk I9 in the same direction, lever 43 will ride on a cam face 52 and the lever will move angularly, to permit valve 33 to close and cut 01T the supply of air to chamber I8. Next, a cam face 53 will shift lever 43 angularly, to again open valve 33 until the lever engages the at face 54. At this time, port 21 in disk I9 will register with duct 30 and air will be delivered through pipe I6 to the sand delivery nozzle in said trap. When the sanding operati-on is to be stopped, the engineer will return lever 23 to its neutral position. During this shift, cam face 53 will allow lever 43 to swing angularly for closing valve 33 during the initial portion of the return stroke of disk I9. During continuing rotation of disk I9 and handle 23, beveled cam-face 55 will engage the lower end of lever 43 and shift the lever radially, as illustrated in Fig. 5, against the force of spring 60, without imparting angular movement to the lever, so that during the return stroke of handle 23 and disk I9, valve 33 will remain closed and no air will be delivered to chamber I8 or duct 28, to prevent a clean-out blast during the return stroke of the disk. After being lifted by bevelled cam face 55, lever I4 3 will ride on the face 58, until disk I9 is in its neutral position. Then lever 43 will be shifted downwardly by spring 6U, to its normal position against the inner periphery of chamber I8. Thervalve will then be in its neutral position, in readiness for a succeeding sanding operation, When the other sand trap to which pipes I5 and II are connected, is to be operated, handle 23 will be shifted rearwardly or in reversedirection, for successively delivering a clean-out blast to the sandV delivery nozzle in the same manner as before described. The other set of cam-members will then control the air to chamber I8 in the same manner described. During the return stroke of handle 23 and disk I9, lever 43 will be shifted by a bevelled cam-face 55, against the force of spring to keep valve 33 closed, as before described.

The invention 'exemplifies` controllingl mecha-` nism for a sand trap which comprises a rotatable valve-disk with a port therein,for controlling vthe delivery `of air to the clean-out ducts `and the sand delivery nozzlesof sand traps, and an automatically `closing auxiliary valve controlled by the disk, for cutting off the supply of air from the supply pipe to the diskV chamber, so that there Will be no leakage of air from the casing around the valve-disk when the sanding mechanism is n'ot in operation, and means for cutting off air during substantially the entire return stroke of the valve-disk.

The invention is not to be understood as limited to the details described, since these may be modiiied Within the scope of the appended claims Without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure lby Letters Patent is:

1. In controlling mechanism for a sand trap provided with an air nozzle for discharging sand and a duct for a clean-out blast, the combination of a casing provided with conduits for separately delivering air to the nozzle and the clean-out duct, a valve element rotatable in the casing, provided with a port for successively vcontrolling delivery of air to said conduits, and with rotatable cam means, a normally closed auxiliary valve in the casing for controlling the supply of compressed air to said element, and means for opening the auxiliary valve movablein the casing, said cam means including faces for shifting said opening-means to open the auxiliary valve for the successive delivery of air to the nozzle and the clean-out duct when the disk is rotated in one direction and a face for shifting said means to leave t'he auxiliary valve closed during the return stroke of said element to its normal position.

2. In controlling mechanism for a sand trap provided With an air nozzle for discharging sand and a duct for a clean-out blast, the combination of a casing provided with conduits for separately delivering air to the nozzle and the clean-out duct, a valve element rotatable in the casing, provided With a port for 'successively controlling delivery of air to said conduits, and with rotatable cam means, a normally closed auxiliary valve in the casing for controlling the supply of compressed air to said element, and a lever for opening the auxiliary valve movable in the casing, said cam means including faces for shifting said lever to open the auxiliary valve for 4the successive delivery of air to the nozzle and the clean-out duct when the disk' is rotated in one direction and a face for shifting said lever to leave the auxiliary valve closed during the return stroke of said element to its normal position.

3. In controlling mechanism for a sand trap provided with an air nozzle for discharging sand and a duct for a clean-out blast, the combination of a casing provided with conduits for separately delivering air to the nozzle and the clean-out duct, a valve element rotatable in the casing, provided With a port for successively controlling delivery of air to said conduits, and with rotatable cam means, a normally closed auxiliary valve in the casing for controlling the supply of compressed air to said element, and means for opening the auxiliary valve movable angularly and slidable in the casing, said cam means including `faces for angularly shifting said means to open the auxiliary valve for the successive delivery ofair to the nozzle and the` clean-out duct when thediskis rotated vin one direction anda face for slidably shifting said means to leave the auxiliary valve closed during the return stroke of said element to its normal position,

` 4. In controllingfmechanism for a sand trap provided with an air nozzle for discharging sand and a duct for a clean-out blast, the combination of a casing provided with conduits for separately delivering air to the nozzle and the clean-out duct, a valve element rotatable in the casing, provided with a port for successively controlling delivery `of air to said conduits, and with rotatable cam means, a normally closed auxiliary valve in the casing for controlling the supply of compressed air to said element, and a lever for opening the auxiliary valve movable angularly and slidable in the casing, said cam means including faces for angularly shifting said lever to open the auxiliary valve for the successive delivery of air to the nozzle and the clean-out duct when the disk is rotated in one direction and a face for slidably Ishifting said lever to leave the auxiliary valve closed during the return stroke of said element t-o its normal position.

5. In controlling mechanism for a plurality of sand traps, each provided with an air nozzle for discharging sand and a duct for a clean-out blast, the combination of a casing provided with conduits for separately delivering air to the nozzle and the clean-out duct of each trap, a rotatable valve disk in the casing provided with a port for successively controlling the delivery of air to each trap and with cam means, a normally closed auxiliary valve in the casing for controlling the supply of compressed air to the valve disk, and means for opening the auxiliary valve, said cam means including faces for angularly shifting said means to open the auxiliary valve for successive air to the ducts in the casing for the air nozzle and the clean-out duct in the traps, respectively, when the disk is rotated in opposite directions, and faces for shifting said means to leave the auxiliary valve closed during the return strokes of the disk to its neutral position.

6. In controlling mechanism for a plurality of said traps, each provided with an air nozzle for discharging sand and a duct for a clean-out blast, the combination of a casing provided with conduits for separately delivering air tothe nozzle and the clean-out duct of each trap, a rotatable y valve disk in the casing provided With a port for successively controlling the delivery of air to each trap and with cam means, a normally closed auxiliary valve in the casing for controlling the supply of compressed air to the valve disk, and a lever for shifting the auxiliary valve, said cam means including faces for angularly shifting said lever to open the auxiliary val-ve for successive air to the ducts in the casing for the air nozzle and the clean-out duct in the traps, respectively, when the disk is rotated in opposite directions, and faces for shifting the lever to leave the auxiliary valve closed during the return strokes of the disk to its neutral position.

7. In controlling mechanism for a plurality of sand traps, each provided with an air nozzle for discharging sand and a duct for a clean-out blast, the combination of a casing provided with conduits for `separately delivering air to the nozzle and the clean-out duct of each trap, a rotatable valve disk in the casing provided with a port for successively controlling the delivery of air to each trap and with cam means, a normally closed aux- 7 iliary valve in the casing for controlling the supply of compressed air to the valve disk, and a lever for shifting the auxiliary valve angularly movable and slidable in the casing, 4said cam means including faces for angularly shifting the lever to open the auxiliary valve for successive air to the ducts in the casing for the air nozzle and the clean-out duct in the traps, respectively, when the disk is 8 rotated in opposite directions, and faces for slidably shifting the lever to leave the auxiliary valve closed during the return stroke of the disk to its neutral position.

FRANK E. SAARI. GRANT V. W. ROTH.

No references cited. 

